UNDER THE BLANKET OF SNOW

"One more story grandma please". I said with my puppy dog eyes.

"Fine, one more and then you will sleep". "okay granny". With those words said I laid my head on my grandma's lap welcoming the dreams and falling into a blissful slumber under her arms.

Walking under the sunlight a lady made of pure snow giving an aura of warmth and love, The lady was my grandmother or should I say mother only. My parents were always busy or working. And she is the woman who made me who I am today. I remember watching her water the flowers like she was nourishing her own kids while me and my sister played with our dog and grandpa a coming up with plans to scare grandma. Literally.

I know what you all are thinking scare grandma. My grandparents were the oldest kids you will ever meet. My grandma used to nag grandpa that he can't take care of her garden aiming directly towards his ego and then started my grandpa's plan of revenge by scaring her and then spending the rest of the day apologizing to her. Well that was pure entertainment.

My grandma was a believer of God. She was the one who taught me how to pray. Holding my little finger while going to the church. She was the one who taught me to pray before eating and then thanking god for everything you have before going to bed.

She was the one who was there when I had nightmares. Her embrace was always there as a protective cover from all the monsters. Singing her famous lullaby to help me sleep peacefully.

I still remember my very first day of school, I was crying my eyes out that how will I make friends and there also my grandmother's world calmed me ''Take this rose and keep it with you till the end of the day and its fragrance will help you overcome your fears.' And it did.

I am what i'm today because of my grandma. Everyone says you write amazing stories and this credit goes to grandma. I guess its genetic because she was amazing too.

And the time passed and I grew to be now sixteen years of age but my relationship with grandma remains the same. Greeting her early in the morning, telling her what happened in school and giving her a goodnight kiss everyday. She is my protecting covering my best friend and I can't bear to loose her. I live her so much.

But you can't defy or win against nature now can you. Everyone grows old. My grandma did too a long time ago but I guess I just realized today.

I see myself staring at the lady of snow lying in bed struggling to smile and assuring me that everything is fine. I know that these are her last days. I just realized that this may be the last time I will see her smile or see her lips moving oozing comforting words or her hand holding mine in a grip so strong and safe as if trying to prevent me from falling down a cliff.

I can see my grandpa trying to control his tears. Same with my parents. But what about me I can't control them. Its like they are falling on their own.I can't bear to see my pillar of strength, my life support system dieing in front if my eyes. I just seems yesterday that grandma is taking out her special apple pie from the oven. It just seems like any time she will wake up and tell me to get ready for going to church.

It happened just so suddenly that at one time her lips were moving in silent prayer and then the next nothing. No sound nothing. Her lips stopped moving moving, her eyes closed and het chest stopped moving as if to prove that the last speck of life has left her. This was it she was gone.

Her funeral was so beautiful. Many people spoke wonderful things about her all her friends and foes, her students everyone. And all this time I was seeing everything as if I was seeing through a ocean.Tears filling my eyes. They asked me to say something as well but only three words came out 'I LOVE YOU' and nothing else.

It was time to lower her casket. It was pouring lightly as if to signify the nature was crying with me or as if there was a celebration going up there in heaven that an angel has joined them. I spent some alone time with her. Het grave stone was simple yet beautiful.

               'Claire Smith'

       A loving wife and mother'

                 1933-2014

Yeah she was an amazing women who lived her life to the fullest. I knew should be having no regrets in her life.